How Does A Garden Grow?

“Digging in the dirt, the intrigue of a flower, the taste of homegrown veggies, tending to the crop and the fulfillment of the harvest…Gardening dwells in one’s soul.”

For a decade I attempted “patio” container gardening in a yard with A LOT of shade and no flat land. It was probably comical to watch me daily tote my pots of tomatoes and such to the ever-moving sunny patches in the yard! Those containers never thrived, and I always eventually grew tired as well.

I’ve been known to pick up seed catalogs and gardening books in late winter and “dream” up a garden plan…I’m pretty sure gardening has always been within me. And sometimes I think it would be fun to take gardening classes to better understand planting… but then I ultimately decide “trial and error” is more fun in the end. Exploring and learning along the journey of discovery is nice; I like the hint of unknown innocence that feels like uncharted waters.

My garden has been about 17 years in the making. And this Spring I began one! My Boy Scout Sons drew sketches, walked out lengths in the yard with me and checked for sunny spots. My husband built the frame, and I collected 2 truck loads of dirt and worked alongside boys as we transferred and prepped the space. All the boys had specific things they wished to have in the garden. It may be too ambitious…who knows?? but I got everyone’s wish list items! And in the ground they went. My heart is happy. There is a contentedness that comes from a garden; and anticipated calm.I feel closer to God and my own true self when working in a garden. My boys seem to have a connection as well, and I like observing that. I look forward to them picking veggies, cutting flowers and plucking fruit from our garden. I dream of things like bacon and tomato sandwiches and fresh herbs to marinate and grill with…yum.

We made name tags for all the things in the garden. A friend gave me a creative trellis that makes me smile whenever I see it. The boys are giving “garden tours” to the neighborhood kids. My youngest felt it was immensely important to plant a “rainbow” of flowers. So throughout the veggies and herbs, we did, (its tricky finding blue flowers!)

My memories go back to watching my grandfather in his garden. He had a huge plot and was meticulous in details and journaling his experiences; I was fascinated. My grandmother always had fresh vegetables at the dinner table; I make some of the same dishes and think of her.

I watched my mom garden also; getting advice from my grandfather. I would “linger” around mom’s garden and pick flowers from it. My happy place was a summer evening swinging in the yard and looking/dreaming by it. I planted some of my mom’s favorite flowers in my garden.

My grandmother told me stories of her mom, my great-grandmother, in hard times many years ago. Gardens were communal for food, and flowers were too extravagant to have. My great-grandmother would cut paper flowers for funerals and weddings in her small town. Her heart was still in the beauty of the garden and she used the resources she had.

Gardens can grow by being passed down through generations. Little eyes watch and help, dreams are stirred, imaginations take flight in all ages, and seeds are planted. Tastes, sights and the sounds in the garden are culminated within one’s heart. Plant something this season; more importantly, share the experience with those around you. You will just be amazed at all that can grow in a garden.

“A sacred little spot of earth- quiet, hopeful, yearning for a beautiful display of its full potential.”